Wichita eagle., 1887-07-02
/" "sDEAR JENNIE shall be down next

ttOn Thursday received telegram
from her. 1t ran:
ssI will be ready. Yours until death,
| Call at the Ocean house.
| JENNIE CRANE
| sIn the morning started out ON the
western train 1t would leave me at tn,
little station where Jennie lived ius1
about sunset. would go directly to thu
Ocean.
s.The day seemed year almost, but W.
finally steamed into b, Just as thu
tinge of sunset was fading. rushed of
at once toward the place appointed.
knew it almost by heart. Jennie's parent:
| had kept the place for number of years
and it was as familiar to me as my father,
house.
sI entered the house; spoke to the same
old clerk had seen there last, and ordered
room.
"sNo 1O,' said he, with smile. eYor
can find it readily. Shall tell the folks.
| he added.
sIf you please said I, and the mex,
moment was on my way to room 1G.
.'How familiar it all appeared. Would
| Jennie be the same as of old? I wondered
81 changed my dress, and then, hearing
a step on the stairway, sat down in 8
| strange kind of futter. 1t sounded ikt
nv darling's footsteps. twas now jOineG
by others, and l became aware that the
whole family had gathered at the door Of
No 10.
"a moment of suspense, and answered
small rap with:
'.'Come in
| Entrance was first effected by ole
| Crane, of lodging house notoriety. Their
came nv bette noir, the red haired, watery
eyed girl from whom l had parted but 6
| month before; her mother, two large
brothers, and a clerical looking person
followed.
II stood up. My hair also did the same
| Like q flash it came to me that there were
two Jennies. Crane belonging to both O
them as surname.
| "'Glad to see you.' said Crane. ALLOW
me to introduce Parson Spliceum. Mr.
| Stubbins, Parson Spliceum.
| eyes said Crane, volubly, Il am GLAD
to see YOU When Jennie told me you haG
written to her about the marriage I was
little surprised, but 1 said, "Jenny, he'll
make a good son-in-law. You shall bt
his" And l went right over and showed
the letter to Parson Spliceum, and had
him come over so as to be here at thu
proper time
"'Are the parties ready?' asked Mr.
| Spliceum.
yes said Crane, putting his girl.
arm through mine.
"I drew back. I had been SO dumfoundet
1 could not speak before, but now
| gasped:
"'There is a mistake. p
"'Did you write this:' asked the brother
showing my letter, and looking very dan
| Gerous.
"'No 'buts" about it, howled Crane
| You shan't tri1e with the affections O
| my beautiful girl. Joe, you steady i'm
| I'll give away the bride. ParsOn, say tht
words
"'Young man. said Sphceum, yo1
acknowledge this offer of marriage t.
Jennie Crane, the beautiful creature a
your side. 1t, therefore, becomes m!
| painful duty to pronounce you man an(
| WIFE
"And he did Crane gave him $40 fol
| his trouble, and Joe had to STEADY m,
| or should have fallen prone upon tn,
floor. The horrible occurrence took place
in less time than have occupied in tell
| ing it. was married.
''For few moments I could scarcel!
breathe. The preacher left, Joe dropped
out, and the mother vanished. l wa
alone with Crane and his girl.
"I suppose said he, there was ,
mistake. 1 more than half see it now.
bought this place of man named Crane
| and he had a daughter named Jennie.
was to her you wrote"
/" "'Exactly,' said, family.
"'And my girl received it. A very nat
ural mistake. But, Mr.. Stubbins, mus
report bad news to you. The other Jenni,
died suddenly the day before you started
down, and was buried this morning.
''Dead and buriedi felt a chill, as Of
death, settle around my heart; terrible
blighting sense of misery, too deep fol
words. My darling dead! Oh, death
how cruel are thy stern DEGREES.
"'Under the circumstances continued
Crane, Il believe you will do the proper
thing. Take my girl, your lawfully wed
ded wife, and make the best of life. She
loves you, and in time you will appreciate
her, and forget some of this bitterness
"'My poor husband said Jennie, stoop
ing over me, and l felt tear drop on my
hand. That decided me. l said:
''My friends, my heart is dead, think
My love was given to her who is nov
sleeping the last long sleep. l shall never
know such a love again. But l will take
this Jennie, and for the sake of the love
she has for me, provide for her good
home. Then, if the time ever comes wheI
l shall forget, in part, the sore trial Of
this hour, will turn to her, and we viii
live together as man and wifeT
''They accepted. l brought her to this
city seventeen years ago, and she is here
| now. We have never lived together q
single day, however, though she has been
as true as steel in her love and loyalty tc
me. Now, boys, is my name worthy q
place on the club roll:''
Like shout the answer went up,
"Worthy, doubly worthy"
But, my dear boys, feel like asking
the secretary to remove it now. shall
go from hence to live with my wife. The
talk tonight has shown me my proper
course henceforth, think"
81 will now make motion, the last
shall ever offer in the club. 1t is this:
Resolved, that the Bachelors club, or the
members thereof, shall assemble at the
residence of Mr.. and Mrs. p. ". Stub
bins, at No. 262 Pine street, on Friday
night next, to enjoy social and grand re-
Union'i'
Carried unanimously, and amid great
applause.
AS the hand on the dial Of the clock in
dicated 10, the president said:
Adjourned to meet at 2. W. Stubbins' +,
one week from tonight. III W. 3.
Nyrick in New York Weekly.
Last year the North inuia Ifdco society
put into circulation 214,S21 vernacular